Fabinho is out indefinitely with a “little meniscus tear,” according to Philadelphia Union manager Jim Curtin. Curtin informed fans and members of the media in his Thursday press conference that the Brazilian could be out “a couple weeks.”

Fabinho left last Saturday’s game against Columbus Crew SC during halftime while veteran Union and MLS defender Ray Gaddis entered in his place.

It is being speculated that Union Homegrown defender Matt Real, who is currently in Spain on assignment with the United States Under-20 National Team, will be called-up to the First Team for the upcoming match against Colorado Rapids on March 31.

Real is set to return from the USYNT’s training camp in Alicante, Spain on March 28, following Tab Ramos’ team’s final friendly against Atletico Madrid’s U-21 squad on March 27.

Also out of action is Union center-half Richie Marquez.

According to Curtin, Marquez recently underwent sports’ hernia surgery, and the 25-year-old is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Derrick Jones Scores Stunner For Steel FC

Apparently the First Team doesn’t deserve Derrick Jones, either.

Jones logged 84 minutes and scored an absolute stunner in Bethlehem Steel FC’s 4-1 win over Richmond Kickers last Saturday. Have a look for yourselves at Jones’ goal:

According to sources close to ESPN FC, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on his way to Major League Soccer and the Los Angeles Galaxy, after the Swedish superstar had his contract terminated by Manchester United on Thursday.

Zlatan, whose contract with United was set to expire in June, has reportedly signed a two-year contract with the Galaxy, and sources believe LA will pay upwards of $3 million for the 36-year-old, using Targeted Allocation Money.

According to sources, the deal is expected to be announced at the end of this week, ahead of the inaugural LA Derby on March 31 between the Galaxy and MLS newcomers Los Angeles Football Club.

MLS Announces All-Star Game Opponent

Major League Soccer announced on Thursday that Italian Serie A champions, Juventus, will be the opponent for the 2018 MLS All-Star Team. Juve will face the best MLS has to offer on August 1 at Atlanta United’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Juventus, nicknamed La Vecchia Signora or “The Old Lady,” become just the second team from Italy’s Serie A to appear in the MLS All-Star Game. AS Roma were the last Italian team to feature in the 2013 game played in Kansas City.

US Soccer:

Christian Pulisic to Testify in Bus Attack Trial

Hershey, PA native and United States international Christian Pulisic is set to testify as a witness in the trial against a man who admitted to setting off explosive devices targeting club team Borussia Dortmund’s team bus as it headed to a Champions League match back in April 2017.

Manneh, a former midfielder for Columbus Crew SC and the Vancouver Whitecaps, received his United States citizenship in January 2017. On Wednesday, Manneh received a call from USMNT interim manager Dave Sarachan, inviting the midfielder to the team ahead of their friendly against Paraguay on Tuesday.

Global:

Argentinian Club Independiente Involved in Prostitution Ring

Argentinian giants Independiente are in the news recently, but not for their on-field performances.

Instead, the club is mired in a child prostitution scandal, after it emerged that a current player was recruiting members of the club’s youth in having sex with men for money.

At this time, the identity of the accused player remains unknown, although it is known that the player is 19-years-old and was living in club-owned accommodations while recovering from injury.

Independiente reportedly became aware of the situation after one of the abused youth players broke down in front of an employee, revealing a history of past abuses.

It is believed the accused led at least five boys, who were also living in the accommodations and are aged between 15 and 16, into a prostitution ring with men in the City of Buenos Aires.

In other shocking Argentinian football news …

Sampaoli: Dybala, Icardi Could Miss World Cup

Imagine a World Cup without the USMNT and the Summer bloc-parties they bring about.

Imagine a World Cup without Ireland and their drunken fans.

Imagine a World Cup without the Italians and their luscious hair.

These are the unimaginable realities of this upcoming World Cup in Russia.

Now imagine an Argentina side without star players Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi. According to manager Jorge Sampaoli, both players are being considered to be left at home for the Summer tournament.

Sampaoli left the Juventus and Inter Milan stars out for Argentina’s March friendlies and now the duo are believed to be running the risk of missing out on Russia altogether.

Boca Juniors’ Cristian Pavon and Racing Club’s Lautaro Martinez are believed to be favored by Sampaoli, who cited the differences between Dybala and Icardi’s league and National Team performances as a reason for the snub.

“Icardi’s situation is similar to Dybala’s. The comparison between Icardi’s performances at Inter and with Argentina is not the best,” Sampaoli said.

Argentina are in Group D with Croatia, Iceland, and Nigeria for the upcoming tournament.

Thanks for reading Friday’s News Roundup. Check back here, on Monday morning, for the latest happening in The Beautiful Game. Cheers.